SIMON says it is the most important thing happening in classical music in the world…

November 5, 2007

…thus begins an article in the November 3rd edition of the L.A. Times. “Simon” is Simon Rattle. The most important thing? Transformative performances being given by across America by the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela with conductor Gustavo Dudamel. Read awestruck music critic Mark Swed’s account, “Dudamel is Absolutely Revelatory”, here. Get ready. If Swed is right, “our country, with its poor music education, may never — should never — be the same.” See video of Dudamel and his orchestra setting the BBC Proms on fire here. Video of an interview with the conductor is here.